Thread: FoodTV poll: Most annoying: Rachael Rae, Paula Deen, Bobby Flay or Alton Brown?

Originally Posted by BleedingPurple

I'm surprised by this one. I've seen just about every good eats show and loved his Feasting on Asphalt. I know he is a know-it-all on Good eats but isn't that part of his schtick on the show? Same thing on Iron Chef. If he wasn't the know-it-all on Iron Chef, someone else would be.

What I really liked about Feasting on Asphalt 1&2 was that he did seem very down to earth. He seemed like a guy that I'd like to sit down for some BBQ and a beer. There were times on the show where you could tell that it was very impromptu and unscripted and the true Alton seemed like a pretty cool guy.

That's my take anyway...

OK BP, I'll explain my personal Alton issues. I know it's his shtick so he gets away with it, but unfortunately for him he AMAZINGLY and uncannily resembles 2 uncles on my mom's side who are famously avoided at all costs. They are the worst know-it-all braggarts I've ever seen, and while they are nice good-hearted guys they just bug the living **** out of you. Mercilessly. They won't shut the hell up for one second on their interests--which are of course the coolest things in the universe and which of course you couldn't care less about but try politely to play along. That's what civilized people do. We are polite, have patience and compromise in social settings, right? BUT.... try to even mention YOUR interests and they look either visibly bored to death, or they may even get up and walk away while your still talking. Man, I've known these guys for 39 years and the infractions are ENDLESS. As a result I've developed an allergy to know-it-alls. Sure there are degrees, and not all are this bad. Some people can pull it off respectfully. If not for the uncles, I probably love Alton to death. As mentioned, I also love Good Eats and have seen them all multiple times and have tried many of those recipes and techniques. But he just looks and talks so exactly like those guys and it forces me to think of things I don't want to remember. Sorry, Alton. You're simply guilty by resemblance.


If I could do this poll over, I'd still leave Alton in. But I'd definitely include Sandra Lee. It was a mistake leaving her off. I've only sat through her show once or twice in absolute horror, but surprised no one here has mentioned her "Tablescapes" as a flash-point annoyance along with rayrays EVOO.

So your vote should really have an asterisk.

Originally Posted by BleedingPurple

You mean Jack Hourigan?

Jack Hourigan karma for you! She was cute. And TELL ME that Tyler didn't have designs on those sweater kittens! MEEEOW!!

Originally Posted by Fooferah

So your vote should really have an asterisk.

I voted for Paula. And those who didn't must not have seen Paula's Party otherwise she'd surely be up there with Rayray and Bobby.

Originally Posted by *BLoTTo*

If I could do this poll over, I'd still leave Alton in. But I'd definitely include Sandra Lee. It was a mistake leaving her off. I've only sat through her show once or twice in absolute horror, but surprised no one here has mentioned her "Tablescapes" as a flash-point annoyance along with rayrays EVOO.

Tablescapes? I didn't mention it only because I've been so horrified by the little I've seen of her show, that I avoid the Food Network for two hours before and two hours after any Sandra Lee show that I see on my satellites television guide.

I sat through one segment of one show and switched off in disgust. I figured the show really couldn't be that bad, so I went back for a second try and couldn't get through another segment. I don't care what catch phrases she may have. I just want to bust her in the head with a cast iron skillet.

Originally Posted by Rob2716

Tablescapes? I didn't mention it only because I've been so horrified by the little I've seen of her show, that I avoid the Food Network for two hours before and two hours after any Sandra Lee show that I see on my satellites television guide.

I sat through one segment of one show and switched off in disgust. I figured the show really couldn't be that bad, so I went back for a second try and couldn't get through another segment. I don't care what catch phrases she may have. I just want to bust her in the head with a cast iron skillet.

Oh it's bad alright. Did you happen to read Tony Bourdain's FoodTV blog I linked earlier? He nuked her. It was GOLD. In case you missed it, here's the link again: BLOG


Ya know, the show I miss is Melting Pot. It was nice to see some ethnic food, and I liked all the chefs that alternated there.

Originally Posted by *BLoTTo*

Oh it's bad alright. Did you happen to read Tony Bourdain's FoodTV blog I linked earlier? He nuked her. It was GOLD. In case you missed it, here's the link again: BLOG


Ya know, the show I miss is Melting Pot. It was nice to see some ethnic food, and I liked all the chefs that alternated there.

Thanks for providing that link again. I read that blog entry early this year... not long after it was posted. Love Bourdain and laughed hysterically when I read his criticism. Even now, I bust up laughing at his Batali/lion analogy. Just hilarious.

I can understand the Food Network catering to the layperson and making their shows accessible to the general public. However, they really should make an effort to keep some shows available to those that really do care about good food and learning something, such as cooking techniques, flavor combinations and things of that sort. Batali and Flay may be a**holes, but who cares. Just let them cook. Giada can cook. Brown can teach you things. Just let them do what they do best and stop with the shows where these wanna be chefs (or even the real chefs sometimes) go out and try a bunch of random garbage while oooh'ing and aaah'ing at the camera. If I want to watch travel/food shows, I'll do that with Bourdain.

Originally Posted by Fooferah

Geez, the dictionary is really losing credibility.

before you know it representatives of the Oxford American Dictionary will be visiting RinkRat and presenting him with a plaque because they decided to put "teh" in the dictionary.

Originally Posted by *BLoTTo*

Oh it's bad alright. Did you happen to read Tony Bourdain's FoodTV blog I linked earlier? He nuked her. It was GOLD. In case you missed it, here's the link again: BLOG


Ya know, the show I miss is Melting Pot. It was nice to see some ethnic food, and I liked all the chefs that alternated there.

That for posting that blog. What a great read!